Study: Cannabinoids May Help Protect Blood-Brain Barrier After Intracerebral Hemorrhage

Cannabinoids may alleviate neuroinflammation and protect the blood-brain barrier following an intracerebral hemorrhage, according to a new study published by the journal Brain Research.

“The blood-brain barrier (BBB) disruption and the following development of brain edema, is the most life-threatening secondary injury after intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH)”, states the study’s abstract. “This study is to investigate a potential role and mechanism of JWH133, a selected cannabinoid receptor type2 (CB2R) agonist [meant to mimic the effects of natural cannabinoids], on protecting blood-brain barrier integrity after ICH.”

According to StrokeCenter.org, intracerebral hemorrhage “occurs when a diseased blood vessel within the brain bursts, allowing blood to leak inside the brain.”

For the study, 192 adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into multiple groups who received either varying levels of the CB2 agonist, or none. They found that the agonist “ameliorated brain edema, neurological deficits and blood-brain barrier damage, as well as microglia activation”, in addition to other positive changes.

The study concludes by stating that “CB2R agonist alleviated neuroinflammation and protected blood-brain barrier permeability in a rat ICH model.”

Anthony Martinelli

Anthony is co-founder and Editor-in-Chief of TheJointBlog. He has worked closely with numerous elected officials who support cannabis law reform, including as the former Campaign Manager for King County (WA) Councilmember Dave Upthegrove. He has been published by multiple media outlets, and is a former contributor for Village Voice Media.